Max Scherzer Throws No-Hitter, Elbowed Out of Perfect Game in 9th

Max Scherzer followed up a one-hitter against the Milwaukee Brewers earlier this week with a no-no on Saturday.

Scherzer no-hit the Pittsburgh Pirates in a ten-strikeout performance Saturday afternoon at Nationals Park. Scherzer allowed just one hit, no runs, and struck out 26 on his two starts this week.

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Bryce Harper homered in the fourth Saturday. The Nationals added five more insurance runs in the 6-0 victory over the Pirates.

The Washington Nationals righty carried a perfect game into the ninth. With two outs in the top of the last inning, Scherzer nicked pinch hitter Jose Tabata in the elbow to break up the perfect game. Tabata, wearing elbow protection, appeared to lean into the pitch and made little effort to avoid getting plunked.

Josh Harrison then took Scherzer to deep left, where Michael Taylor quickly tracked the ball down to end the game. The victory boosted the dominant pitcher to 8-5 with a stingy 1.76 ERA on the season.

The no-no follows, the second of the MLB season, San Francisco Giants rookie Chris Heston’s earlier this month. Scherzer’s feat marks the second such event in the short history of the Washington Nationals and the sixth in the franchise’s history counting its days in Montreal.

ESPN asked Scherzer if he thought Tabata purposely stood in front of the ball.

“No, it was a slider that just backed up and then hit him,” Scherzer told ESPN. “I don’t blame him for doing it. Heck, I would probably do the same thing.”